British Colonial design style-Well traveled home

Hi everyone, so excited to share one of my favorite living rooms with you. Although I gravitate towards coastal contemporary style, I love my friend Kristin’s living room with its nod to British Colonial design style. A beautiful tropical-inspired living room was created using furniture and accessories that are new and from a bygone era. Like many of us, Kristin regularly adds, takes away, rearranges furniture and accessories to create an ever-changing space.

Collectibles and British Colonial design style

Blue and white ginger jars

So, a little backstory of how the British Colonial style emerged… The British Empire was the largest global empire reigning between the 16th and 18th centuries. It was the time of exotic travels, invasions of land, and foreign occupation for the colonists. British Empire encompassed trading posts, tea, coffee, and rubber plantations in Africa, India, the Far East, the South Pacific, and the Caribbean. 

The outcome was a melting pot of rich mixtures of cultures and traditions. Which created the new world as we know it. Often the colonist brought the comforts of the homeland with them, such as furniture. But, they found that their softwood furniture warped due to the humidity of the tropical climate.

In order for them to have the comfort of their home, the colonists had the native craftsman recreate the British design. They used local materials such as teak, ebony mahogany, rattan, wicker, and animal hide. The natives often incorporated their own cultural flairs into the furniture and textile designs.

The British Colonial style came to be thorough a blend of island life and English sophistication. This blended design shows off in items such as ginger jars that carried spices, binoculars, maps, and exotic pieces from travels to faraway lands. British also was enchanted by the lush outdoor surroundings. To give the inside of the homes more of the tropical feel they placed plants with large green leaves, potted palm fronds, ferns, orchids throughout.

Blue and white rug

Kristin’s homage to the British Colonial style is perfectly achieved with its well-traveled exotic feel. Beautiful accessories were found in antique shops, places they have visited even some travels to garage sales.

Similarly, there are few other inspirations I have found on British Colonial style…

This exotic classic style is one of my favorite design aesthetics. I love the lightness and freshness of British Colonial design.  It’s textured and layered with collected pieces from around the world to create the most interesting space.

Hope you have a great day… Stay healthy and stay home! Thank you so much for stopping by!